This past weekend, 16 of the best teams in college sailing competed at the Naval Academy in the Graham Hall Team Race Interconference Regatta. Breezy conditions on both days, combined with a lot of races left the team exhausted, but a fantastic effort from skippers Evan Aras, Chris Barnard, Sydney Bolger, & Pete Johns and their cadre of crews Katia DaSilva, Rebecca Evans, Kate Canty, & Leslie Cowen led to a big victory for the squad.

An initial round robin of races against the other 15 teams left the Hoyas tied for first with a 13-2 record, with losses to the College of Charleston and defending Team Race National Champion Roger Williams. In the next round against the top 7 teams Georgetown went 5-2 losing again to Charleston and to Brown. Big wins over Roger Williams and conference rival Hobart/William-Smith among others allowed the Blue & Grey to move onto the final four where they were 2-1 to secure first place overall. This is an encouraging result for the 7th ranked Hoyas, while still allowing a lot of room for improvement in the coming weeks.

Rainy and windy conditions for the second weekend in a row greeted the Hoyas as they arrived at the College of Charleston sailing center in Mt. Pleasant, SC. With only nine teams at the event, both A & B Divisions sailed together making for intense, closely contested races. Despite thunderstorms cutting short racing on Day 1, a determined attitude on Day 2 allowed for the Women's team to make gains against many of the best women's squads in college sailing. This event serves as a great starting point for the Hoya Women's team as they begin the marathon of events each weekend for the next few months. Another solid effort for Nancy Hagood in A division, with crews Tory Lynch and Maisie Totaro, will keep the team hungry for more.

The team is currently practicing in Charleston, SC during the Spring Break. Hoya Sailing will return to competition next weekend at the St. Mary's College Team Race, Navy Spring Women's Interconference Regatta, and as hosts of the John Jackson Memorial Team Race on the Potomac.